What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Lenox has the most expensive homes ($467k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athol	Lenox
People
Population	12,011Highest	5,079Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Lenox and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA	$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA	$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Highest 35% below MA	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA
	Athol and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA	$5,299Highest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%	47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Athol and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.3%Highest MA: 10%	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 8% below MA	23 minLowest 22% below MA
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lenox and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#256 of 282 in MA	#90 of 282 in MA
School district	Athol-Royalston	Lenox
High school in town	Athol High	Lenox Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	7.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.